One should just do a cursory search for internet predator statistics and you will find many story's that really debunk the myths that 1 in 5 kids are approached by bad people' or whatever it is this week.

I, too, once thought this, until I started talking to my kids about their posts on Myspace/Facebook/Bebo/XANGA/Etc. By in large, they are very careful about their personal data.

This all comes down to ensuring that you are adequately supervising your kids activities online, just as you do when they are playing in the yard... and yes, it can be done.